Window clearance slot cover



April 26, 1960 c. E. HEDEEN ETAL 2,934,375

wmuow CLEARANCE sun" COVER Filed July 31, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [227/ 6520291, cZW/esKJhzia JZX We 294 5.55

P 1960 c. E. HEDEEN ETAL 2,934,375

WINDOW CLEARANCE SLOT COVER Filed July 31, 1958 a Sheets-Sheet 2 Unite2,934,375 Patented Apr. 26, 1960 WINDOW CLEARANCE SLOT COVER ApplicationJuly 31, 1958, Serial No. 752,231

10 Claims. (Cl. 296-44) Thisinvention relates to a window clearance slotcover, and more particularly to a window clearance slot cover which isarranged to close a window clearance slot when the Window is closed andto swing out of the way to permit rearward and downward movement of awindow in an automobile door.

Automobile door windows conventionally are arranged :to drop down withinthe door to an open position. In

many body constructions a straight downward movement of the window isall that is required; however, in certain body constructions itisnecessary to move. the window in an endwise direction relative to thedoor as well as downwardly. Under these conditions. it is necessary toprovide a clearance slot in the door adjacent an edge of the window topermit endwise movement of the window. This invention provides apivotallymounted cover member for closing the clearance slot when thewindow is up, and, means are provided for automatically locking. thecover member in slot-closing position when the window is closed toprevent access to the interior of the door from outside the automobilethrough the clearance slot. The cover member may be pivotally mountedeither on the window or on the door, and the cover member carries afollower which is adapted to engage a guide member for swinging thecover toward a slot-closing position as the window moves toward closedposition and for locking -the cover in slot-closing. position when thewindow is closed.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and from the drawings, in which: i

. Fig. 1 a fragmentary side elevational view of an automobile having a.preferred form of the. invention .therein, a portion of the automobiledoor outer panel being broken away to show underlying parts, and theFig. 2 is an. enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the structure ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line-3+3 of Fig. 2; Y

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken along the line4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig, 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of theinvention, the parts being shown in solid lines Fig. 5.,

Referring now more particularlyto the drawings, an automobile designatedin Fig. 1 generally as.10 qhasi'a tates Patent window 20. A fixed rearquarter window 22 is mounted between the rear quarter 12 and the roof18; As part of the body, a front door is shown fragmentarily at 24 and arear door is designated generally as 26 and includes an outer panel 28and an inner panel 30. The rear door 26 is hingedly mounted inconventional manner (not shown). on the center pillar 14. Conventionaldoor latches (not shown) may be used to latch each door. The rear door26 mounts awindow 32 and carries a peripheral frame 34 including a topmember 34a, a rear side member 3%, a front side member 34c, and a bottommember 34d.

The window is adapted to be moved between a closed position shown insolid lines in Fig. l and shown fragamentarily in Fig. 2 and an openposition shown fragmentarily in broken lines in Fig. 1, wherein thewindow has moved downwardly and rearwardly and is housed in the doorbetween the outer and inner panels 28, 30 thereof. Any suitable type ofregulator mechanism may be utilized to move the window between itsclosed and open positions, as for example, a regulator of the type shownin Patent No. 2,775,479 which issued on December 25, 1956, to J. J.Balint et al.

As may be seen in Fig. 1, center pillar 14 is offset rearwardly relativeto the front member 34c of the window frame and the rear portion of thedoor 28, extends back into the rear quarter 12 past the rear edge of thewindow 32. Because of the rearwardly offset center pillar, it is notpossible to drop the window 32 straight 'down from closed to openposition, but the window must move rearwardly as it moves downwardly inorder to clear the center pillar. The rear portion of the door whichextends into the rear quarter 12 provides space for this movement.Mounted in the door are window guides 66 and 38 which are connected tothe window through rollers 36a and 38a carried on a horn 34f projectingdownwardly from the bottom member 34d of the window frame and whichguide the window in a downwardly and rearwardly extending path duringthe first part of window movement from closed toward open position.

A window clearance slot 40 is formed in a horizontally bent upperportion of the outer door panel 28 at the belt line of the automobile toreceive the rear edge of the window 34 as the window moves downwardlyand rear- A wardly. The window 32 and the slot 40 are both located in avertical plane outwardly of the plane of the fixed rear quarter window22 to permit the necessary rearward body .including a. rear quarter-12,a center pillar-14, .a'

rocker panel 16, and a roof 18 which carries a back window andassociated structure'being shown fragrrientarily in open position inbroken lines;

Figs. 5 through 8 show a modified form of the invention which isgenerally similar except that the cover member is pivotally mounted onthe door and engages guide or holding means on the window.

In Figs. 1 through 4 a cover member, which is formed as an invertedchannel, is dm'ignated generally as 42 and includes an outer wall 42a,an inner generally parallel wall 42b, and a top generally horizontal webportion 420. At one end of the cover member each of the opposite wallsis extended forwardly past the forward end of the web portion 42c toprovide yoke arms which straddle the bottom window frame member 34d, anda pin 44 extends. through the yoke arms and the frame member 34d: topivotallymount the cover member 42 on the window. A bracket 42d iswelded to the inner wall 42b of the cover member and projects downwardlytherefrom,

resiliently urges the cover member in a counterclockwise direction asthe parts appear in'Fig. 1 frornthe operative or slot-closing positionshown in full lines toward an inoperative position shown in brokenlines. Mounted on the inner door panel 30 is a bracket 48 carrying guidemeans comprising a wall flange 52- extending obliquely downwardly in adirection forwardly of the door26. When the window 32 is closed asillustrated in full lines in Fig. 1, the cover member 42 is in it'shorizontal .slotclosing position, the follower 42a seating adjacent'thewall flange 52 so that the cover is locked-in its slot-closing positionand access to the interior of the door through the slot 40 is prevented.Downward pressure on the web portion 420 of the cover will not swing thecover down because of the engagement of the follower 42:: with the wallflange 52. When the window is moved toward open position, it movesdownwardly and rearwardly in apath defined by the window guides 36, 38,and the window carries the cover member 42 bodily rearwardly anddownwardly so that the follower 42:: moves away from and down past thewall flange 52, permitting the spring 46 to swingthe. cover member inacounterclockwise direction to the inoperative position illustrated inbroken lines in Fig. 1. As the window moves from open position towardclosed position, the follower 42s engages the wall flange 52 "so thatthe cover member is cammed'up to a horizontal position during the finalclosing movement of the window, whereby the cover swings into itsslot-closing position and is locked therein by interengagement of thefollower 42s on the cover with the wall flange 52on the door.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 through 8,the general body construction of the automobile is the same and the samereference characters are used. The cover is pivoted on the door and theguide channel which swings the cover toward slot-closing position as thewindow moves toward closed position and locks the cover in slot-closingposition when the window is closed is located on the window frame.

Referring to Figs. 5 through 8, a cover member designated generally as142 has an outer wall 142a and an inner wall 142k connected by a web1420. Each of the outer walls has yoke extensions whereby the covermember is pivotally mounted on a bracket 143 bolted in the door by meansof a pin 144. A torsion spring 146 mounted on the pin 144 yieldablyurges the cover member in a counterclockwise direction towardslot-closing position. At its forward end the cover member has anextension 142d terminating at its forward end in a follower .follower142e clears the open end of the glide channel 150. As the window movestoward fully'open position the spring 146 holds the cover against therear edge of the rearwindow frame member 34b When the window is movedtoward closed position, the cover rides along the rear edge of the rear'window frame member 34b until the window reaches the position shown inbroken lines in Fig, 5, whereupon the cover ment downwardly andrearwardly relative to the door 4 swings in a' counterclockwisedirection underfor'ce exerted by the spring 146 so that the. follower142e enters the guide channel 150 on the window frame 34d and the coveris swung up to slot-closing position by the guide channel 150 as thewindow closes. With the window closed, downward pressure on the coverwill not swing the cover away from the mouth of the window clearanceslot because of the engagement of the follower 142e in the guide'channel150.

- While we have shown and described two embodiments of our invention, itis capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in theconstruction and arrangement may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended, claims.

We claim: 7 v

1. In combination, an automobile body member, a window member mounted onthe body member for movement downwardly and in an endwise directionrelative to the body member between closed and open positions, said bodymember having a slot therein for receiving an edge of the window memberduring such endwise movement, a cover for closing said slot when thewindow member is in closed position, said cover having a followerthereon, means pivotally mounting said cover on one of said members formovement between slot-closing position and inoperative position, andguide r neans on the other of said members adapted to engage saidfollower to swing said cover toward slot-closing position as the windowmember moves toward closed position and for locking said cover inslot-closing position when the window member is closed.

2. In combination, an automobile body member, a window member mounted onthe body member for movement downwardly and in an endwise directionrelative to the body member'between closed and open positions, said bodymember having a slot'therein for receiving an edge of the window memberduring such endwise movement, a cover for closing said slot when thewindow member is in closed position, said cover having a followerthereon, means pivotally mounting said cover on one of said members formovement between slot-closing position and inoperative position, guidemeans on the other of said members adapted to engage said follower toswing said cover toward slot-closing position as the window member movestoward closed position and for locking said cover in slot-closingposition when 'the window memberis closed, andspring means resilientlyurging said cover toward its inoperative position.

3. In combination, an automobile :body member, a window member mountedon the body member for movement downwardly and in an endwise directionrelative to the body member between closed and open positions, said bodymember having a slot therein for receiving an edge of the window memberduring such endwise movement, window guide means on the body memberconnected to the window member for guiding movement thereof betweenclosed and open positions, a cover for closing said slot when the windowmember is in closed position, said cover having a follower thereon,means pivotally mountingsaid cover on one of said members for movementbetween slot-closing position and inopera- 'tive position, guide meanson the other of said members adapted to engage said follower toswingsaid cover toward slot-closing position as the window member movestoward closed position and for locking said cover in slotclosingposition when the window member is closed, and

spring means resiliently urging said cover toward its inoperativeposition.

4. In combination, an automobile door member, a window member mounted onthe door member for movemember between open and closed positions, saiddoor member having a slot thereinfor receiving an edge of in closedposition, said cover having a downwardly projection extension providinga follower, means pivotally mounting said cover on one of said membersfor movement between slot-closing position and inoperative position, andguide means on the other of said members adapted to engage said followerto swing said cover toward slot-closing position as the window membermoves toward closed position and for locking said cover in slotclosingposition when the window member is closed.

5. In combination, an automobile body member, a window mounted on thebody member for movement downwardly and in an endwise direction relativeto the body member between closed and open positions, said body memberhaving a slot therein for receiving an edge of the window during suchendwise movement, a cover for closing said slot when the Window is inclosed position, said cover having a follower thereon, means pivotallymounting said cover on said window for movement between slot-closingposition and inoperative position, and guide means on said body memberadapted to engage said follower to swing said cover toward slot-closingposition as the window moves toward closed position and for locking saidcover in slot-closing position when the window is closed.

6. In combination, an automobile door, a window mounted on the door formovement downwardly and in an endwise direction relative to the doorbetween closed and open positions, said door having a slot therein forreceiving an edge of the window during such endwise movement, a coverfor closing said slot when the window is in closed position, said coverhaving a follower thereon, means pivotally mounting said cover on saidwindow for movement between slot-closing position and inoperativeposition, guide means on said door adapted to engage said follower toswing said cover toward slot-closing position as the window moves towardclosed position and for locking said cover in slot-closing position whenthe window is closed, and spring means resiliently urging said covertoward its inoperative position.

7. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 6, wherein said guidemeans comprises a member on the door having a guide flange which extendsdownwardly and obliquely in an endwise direction opposite to the endwisedirection in which said window moves from closed to open position.

8. In combination, an automobile door, a window mounted in the door formovement downwardly and rearwardly relative to the door between closedand open positions, said door having a slot therein for receiving anedge of the window during such rearward movement,

guide means on the door connected to the window for guiding movement ofthe window, a cover for closing said slot when the window is in closedposition, said cover having a follower thereon, means pivotally mounting said cover on said window for movement between slot closing positionand inoperative position, guide means on the door adapted to engage saidfollower to swing said cover toward slot-closing position as the windowmoves toward closed position and for locking said cover in slot-closingposition when the window is closed, and spring means resiliently urgingsaid cover toward its inoperative position.

9. In combination, an automobile body member, a window mounted on thebody member for movement downwardly and in an endwise direction relativeto the body member between closed and open positions, said body memberhaving a slot therein for receiving an edge of the window during suchendwise movement, a cover for closing said slot when the window is inclosed position, said cover having a follower thereon, means pivotallymounting said cover on said body member for movement betweenslot-closing position and inoperative position, and guide means on saidwindow adapted to engage said follower to swing said cover towardslot-closing position as the window moves toward closed position and forlocking said cover in slot-closing position when the window is closed.

10. In combination, an automobile door, a window mounted on the door formovement downwardly and rearwardly relative to the door between closedand open positions, said door having a slot therein for receiving anedge of the window during such rearward movement, a cover for closingsaid slot when the window is in closed position, said cover having afollower thereon, means pivotally mounting said cover on said door formovement between slot-closing position and inoperative position, guidemeans on said window adapted to engage said follower to swing said covertoward slot-closing position as the window moves toward closed positionand for locking said cover in slot-closing position when the window isclosed, and spring means resiliently urging said cover toward itsinoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,393,192 Baker Oct. 11, 1921 2,718,428 Jacques Sept. 20, 1955 2,745,662McDougall May 15, 1956 2,785,000 Bennettson a Mar. 12, 1957

